Councillors boycott budget conference over ‘failed’ tour

Satellite photo showing the distance and direction of Kawnia district from Kampala.

KWANIA – A section of councillors of Aduku Town Council in Kwania District on Wednesdayday boycotted a council meeting over a reported failed study tour.

The meeting that five councilors boycotted was meant for budget approval for 2019 /2020 Financial Year.

The council meeting held at Court hall was attended by only six councilors, five were absent without apology while two sent in their apologies, out of 13 councilors in Aduku.

Mr. Wycliffe Ebong, the speaker Aduku Town Council, confirmed the five councilors deliberately refused to not attend the meeting because of the postponement of the council study tour. The tour was scheduled for May 13 in Bweyale Town Council in Kiryandongo District but was postponed till next week.

“The tour was postponed because of President Museveni’s visit in Kiryandongo District but the councilors did not listen to us when we told them it was postponed till next week,” Mr Ebong said.

When contacted, Mr Ekwang said he could not approve a budget which was being abused.

“We were not taken for a tour which was scheduled to take place before budget approval and councilors are not being respected because they have been deceiving us about the tour since 2017. Money which was meant for tour has been eaten by some,” he said.

Ms. Ebic said she was sick and that she tried communicating to the speaker but his phone was not available.

However, the speaker disagreed. “Those councilors should write an apology and if their apology carries sense I will consider but if they fail to write the apology, they risk missing two council meetings,” Mr Ebong said.

Mr. James Obaya Keny, the town clerk condemned the act saying such behaviour of the councilors affects service delivery.

“We are not going to pay them sitting allowance as the punishment. It is the speaker to take disciplinary action against the councilors,” the town clerk said.

However, Aduku Town Council has approved a budget of Shs709,119,692 for the 2019/2020 Financial Year.

Works and technical services took the largest portion of the budget with Shs250,347,026 (representing 35.3 per cent). Gender and community services Shs37,141,520 (5.5 per cent), Education and sports Shs12,169,800 (1.7 per cent), health and environment Shs39,625,563 (5.6 per cent), production and marketing Shs17,932,643 (2.5 per cent), statutory body Shs56,433,796 (8 per cent), finance and planning Shs79,663,440 (11.2 per cent) and Management support services Shs194,846,302 (30.2 per cent).